Illiteracy on decline in South Africa
Less than one-third of the South African youth have a Matric certificate, with a little more than a 10th having tertiary qualifications - but despite the low figure there has been progress.
ON CLOUD NINE: Victoria High School pupils celebrate after getting their matric results. PHOTO: ALGOA SUNAccording to the recently released General Household Survey 2011, compiled by Statistics South Africa, the percentage of youths with Grade 12 as their highest level of education increased from 21,5% in 2002 to 27,4% in 2011.
The percentage of individuals with tertiary qualifications improved from 9,2% to 11,5% during the same period. But functional illiteracy declined from 27,9% to 18,1% during this time though nine out of 10 South Africans are able to read and write. The survey reflects the failures and successes the country has experienced over the last decade.
No-fee schools have encouraged better attendance, but this only lasts until the primary school period before large numbers start dropping out of schools.
The percentage of learners who paid no tuition fees increased from 0,7% in 2002 to 55,6% in 2011. Provinces with the highest proportion of non-payers were Limpopo at 89,7% and Eastern Cape at 71,8%.
Gauteng learners were least likely to benefit from the "no-fee" system, with only 31,8% of public school learners benefitting. The figure in Western Cape is even lower.
Though almost two-thirds of the 652869 students enrolled at higher education institutions during 2011 were black, this only represented 3,5% of Africans aged 18 to 29 years who were in active study.
Added to problems such as a lack of training and educational capacity among the youth, the Social Profile of Vulnerable Groups study by StatsSA has - in the preceding year - found that, "approximately 62,1% of children live in households with a per capita income of less than R570 per month".
According to the study, "by the age of 22, 56.6% of the youth are neither attending any educational institution nor working. The youth is at risk of becoming unemployable and falling into chronic systemic poverty".
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Iphone5
hai hai hai never lanya ! 3.5 % Africans ? mxm mxm mxm mxm r u saying blacks or Africans ? i mean even whites at UJ are africans ryt ?i think u didnt really do your homework , around my hood 80% of us are in tertiary studying , eiither full time or corresponding. i think it really cant be 3.5% hai nope i deny that
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jerico
that 18,1% of people who are illiterate there majority of them are in parliament.your Zumas,Mantashe, the list is endless.
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somaartakeit
another anc regime mediocre we are expected to celebrate, what a bunch of losers.Report Abuse
MommaC
"The percentage of learners who paid no tuition fees increased from 0,7% in 2002 to 55,6% in 2011."How sustainable is this?
Something urgent needs to be done around both birth control advice and encouraging employment
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!!!Sinudeity!!!
Shame, after matric exams this year, illiteracy will be on the incline again.Report Abuse
cornelius
" the youth is at risk of becoming unemployable and falling into chronic systemic poverty "That says it all and this situation is being exarcebated by the likes of the ANCYL which is holding up false routes to " economic freedom " to the youth, instead of working towards solving this problem.
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shrink7
30%aggr to pass matric i.e pass one pass all technically, no wonder such an "improvement" in "literacy", bravo department of education....oh no! did i just congratulate the department of education?Report Abuse
MorenaWaPolelo
Why am i not suprisedReport Abuse
DJ-Winner
These women have nice a$$es. I must visit Victoria high...If I can just have those 2 in blue jeans...
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BlackSeed
Does this suggest that one is illiterate until you reach matric?Does this mean that all under 17s are illiterate?
This is some silly reporting ek se
Education is an overrated product
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